Hellenic Air Force

Four French jets are taking part in joint exercises with the Greek Air Force

The first upgraded F-16 Viper of the Hellenic Air Force will land on Wednesday at the aerospace facility in Fort Worth, Texas, currently owned by the US Air Force and operated by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, where, for a few months, it will undergo final tests.

The special forces of Greece, Cyprus and the US train as part of joint military exercises which began last month in the area of Souda Bay on the island of Crete. The trilateral drill was designed to enhance cooperation and interoperability between the forces.

Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos visited the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAV) facilities in Tanagra, north of Athens on Monday, to inspect maintenance work on the Hellenic Air Force's military transport aircraft (C-130) and the upgrades being installed on Greek F-16 fighter jets to bring them up to Viper level specifications.

France looks forward to further strengthening its already close relations with Greece, Florence Parly told Kathimerini in an interview shortly after the signing of the agreement for the purchase of 18 Rafale fighters by Greece in Athens.

Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly signed a contract today for Athens' purchase of 18 Rafale fighter jets.

The addition of the French war planes to the Greek Air Force fleet has been touted as giving the Greek Air Force a strategic boost in its deterrent force at a time of heightened tensions with Turkey.

Greek lawmakers approved the purchase of 18 Dassault-made Rafale jets from France for 2.5 billion euros ($3.04 billion) on Thursday, in a deal due to be signed by the Greek and French defence ministers later this month.

Naval units from Greece and the United Arab Emirates are seen taking part in a joint three-day military exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean which wrapped up on Tuesday. The drill, which involved one UAE corvette, two Greek frigates and Hellenic Air Force aircraft, focused on communications, anti-aircraft warfare and fast-roping from helicopters.

Images were released on Saturday of last week's Hellenic Navy exercise that took place from Tuesday to Friday in the wider sea area of the central and northern Aegean. Frigates, surveillance ships, submarines, helicopters of the navy's aviation force and Hellenic Air Force planes took part in the four-day drill.

Greek and US military aircraft recently welcomed North Macedonia's accession to the NATO alliance, flying in the Balkan country's airspace.